The developer of a proposed multi-family housing building downtown opposed by many residents at a public hearing this year plans to open a presentation sales centre Sept. 22.

LionRock Developments has dubbed the five-storey, 52-unit building on Ninth Avenue across from South Kamloops secondary school as Shiloh Place. The company is a partnership between a Delta-based church and developer Mark Foster.

Foster said Friday a "vignette" unit is constructed inside the Hillside Baptist Church building on the quarter-hectare property. The two church buildings on the site will eventually be torn down.

A 2,000-square-foot space inside the condo building will be used for church services, daycare or will be used by downtown residents for recreational use. There are plans for a café, as well.

"Our intent is to get another church congregation in there as we get close to completion," Foster said.

While the building will face competition from unsold inventory elsewhere in the city, Foster said units were designed to be small and affordable. Prices start at $150,000 for a one-bedroom, 500-square-foot unit.

Pre-sales are slated to start next month.

Neighbours urged council to turn down the rezoning during a public hearing in March, saying it was too large and not suitable for the area of mostly single-family, 1950s-era homes.

Council voted 5-3 in favour of the rezoning.